Page 66 of DATE
"What do you think Lorenzo is like?"
Hedy paused for a moment.
Her first thought was whether Da Vinci was sent to extract information.
Next, she considered the confidentiality of the situation.
—However, the servants knew the place was almost like a morgue, and the upper class wouldn’t deign to come down here. It was essentially a semi-closed, secret space.
She stayed silent for a while before finally choosing to voice her thoughts.
"A politician."
No different from those American politicians centuries later.
Deep, calculating, hiding his emotions, and liking to observe and control others.
Da Vinci suddenly laughed.
"You're thinking exactly what I am."
He looked up, playing with a bone like it was a bagpipe.
"Since he came into power, Florence’s festivals have grown grander every year, with more and more revelry and performances, one after another," Da Vinci added, as he placed the last few bones, feeling something was slightly off. "The people have grown more and more reverent and fearful."
Popular, benevolent, and generous.
But after the bloody mass, he was equally ruthless, as fitting as could be.
He truly was a born politician.
Hedy thought for a moment before speaking again. "So, what do you think I’m like, Mr. Leonardo?"
Da Vinci paused, then, under the candlelight, looked at her.
His pale blue eyes were clear and transparent, and his long, dark brows set him apart from the women in the city.
If one only judged by appearance, she would certainly be considered beautiful.
"You..." He thought for a while before setting down what he was holding.
"You seem more like someone wearing a mask."
Tolerant, obedient, gentle, and appearing easy to control.
But hiding all your true emotions and thoughts.
Hedy hadn’t expected him to say that.
She had long been used to protecting herself this way.
A rush of words suddenly surged from within her, making her want to speak, but they were subconsciously pushed back down again.
Some loneliness and old memories were better left sealed away.
She simply looked up, smiled briefly, and turned to adjust the candlelight, making it brighter.
"It’s probably time to go back."
